Display and delivery for packaged goods



Dec. 28, 1965 I B. BRAUN 3,225,939

DISPLAY AND DELIVERY FOR PACKAGED GOODS Filed Feb. 12, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BERNARD BRAUN JOHN P. CHANDLER FIG. 4

mW Q I H II, .I 4

2 n w m HIS ATTORNEY.

Dec. 28, 1965 B. BRAUN 3,225,939

DISPLAY AND DELIVERY FOR PACKAGED GOODS Filed Feb. 12, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 2 /\-"\\F I\ G. 5 6 I "f" 3 /R 29 r [7 k n FIG. 6 l4 .0

c INVENTOR.

BERNARD BRAUN k A BY JOHN P. CHANDLER l4 HIS ATTORNEY.

Dec. 28, 1965 B. BRAUN I 3,225,939

DISPLAY AND DELIVERY FOR PACKAGED GOODS Filed Feb. 12, 1964 sSheets-Sheet a IS F IG. 1 1 a 0 F l G. 9 F l (3. 1O

54 54 38 3e i w /54 58 6O 38 5a 56 x INVENTOR. BERNARD BRAUN JOHN P.CHANDLER HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,225,939 DISPLAY AND DELIVERY FOR PACKAGED GOODSBernard Braun, 13072 226th St., Laurelton, N.Y. Filed Feb. 12, 1964,Ser. No. 344,339 6 Claims. (Cl. 211148) This invention relates to adisplay and delivery system for canned or otherwise packaged goods andhas for its principal object the provision of a novel means of packagingcanned articles and displaying the same for access by the purchaserwithout a clerk first removing the cans from the cartons and puttingthem on display for the customers.

Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of a novelcontainer or carton for the cans and a frame structure of skeletalconstruction with plural shelves for supporting the cartons in aninclined position so that an opening can be quickly formed in one endwall of the carton of suflicient size to permit one or two cans at atime to roll horizontally therefrom by gravity with stop means limitingthe forward travel of the carton on the supporting frame and a bracketor cradle in advance of the stop means for receiving the lead can in aposition where it can be readily grasped by the customer and lifted fromits support, causing another can to immediately roll or slide into itsplace by gravity.

The provision of inclined shelves in supermarkets for receiving a goodlysupply of cans which are gravity fed has a great improvement over theolder practice of simply storing cans on a shelf. These trackways andsupporting structure are relatively expensive and it requires manualunpacking of the boxes and placing the cans in the trackways from therear.

In accordance with the present invention, the end wall of the carton hasa perforated or otherwise weakened line which can be readily severed toprovide an end wall opening of rectangular configuration and the cartonthen placed in one of the several shelf frames and the task is finished.The cans automatically feed themselves by gravity to the front bracketwhere they are easily removed. Rectangular boxes which can slide downthe inclined path may also be used with the present invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for animproved system of the display and delivery of canned goods whereinthere is a great saving in floor space over the older types of rearloading frames having downward inclined tracks, wherein, space must beprovided at the rear for the loading operation after the cans have beenremoved from the cartons in which they are shipped.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display and deliverycombination for canned goods wherein the shipping cartons for the cansbecome the visual display device and rendering it unnecessary to removethe cans from the carton when the same is opened and permitting thecarton to function as a selling vehicle when properly ornamented andprovided with a selling message.

Yet another object is to provide a novel display rack or frame withseparately formed shelf frames, i.e., frames that form downwardlyinclined shelves for the cartons. The display racks can be shipped incollapsed condition so as to occupy little shipping space.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display and delivery system of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the special carton in its initial closedcondition;

FIG. 3 shows the carton when the leading end wall section has beenopened and is ready for the delivery of cans;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelf frame;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the base frame;

FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a broken side elevation showing the means of mounting theshelf frame;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a broken perspective view showing a modification;

dFIG. 10 is a section taken on lines 10-10 of FIG. 9; an

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation of the rear frame.

The combination of the present invention essentially comprises a baseframe 10, a plurality of rectangular shelf frames 11 and a plurality ofshipping cartons 12 of special construction for the cans. The base frameincludes two side frames 14 of identical construction connected at theback by rear frame 16.

This rear frame has two vertical bars 18 connected by horizontal bars 19having hinge-forming loops 20 at their ends. The rear frame isreinforced at its lower end by horizontal bars 21 and 22 and generallyvertical, diagonal braces 23, the parts being secured together bywelding.

Each side frame includes an inverted, U-shaped supporting frame 24 whoselower ends extend diagonally upwardly at 26, forming reinforced legs. Itfurther includes horizontal bars 28, parts again being secured togetherby welding. The loops 20 receive the rear vertical leg 30 of eachinverted U-shaped side frame, thus forming hinge elements. In shipping,the side frame may be swung, one to the front and one to the rear ofrear frame 16 and the parts, thus collapsed, occupy very little space.By referring to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the loop 20 located at theright hand end of bar 19 is offset selightly rearwardly of loop 20 atthe other end to permit the right-hand frame (when viewed from thefront) to more readily fold to the rear of rear frame.

The loops 20 on the lowermost cross bar 22 of rear frame 16 rest uponthe horizontal bar 29 on the side frame next to the bottom bar and thislimits downward travel of the rear frame which is in effect hung on theside frames.

The shelf frame 11 is shown in detail in FIG. 4 and it includes ahorizontal U-shaped base frame at the bottom having a front bar 31 andside bars 32 which terminate at their rear ends in U-shaped books 34which are mounted on horizontal bars 19 of the rear frame. It furtherhas inverted U-shaped side frames 36 welded at their lower ends to sidebars 32 and provided with front bars 37. It has a similar central frame38 welded to a lower bar 39.

It also has connecting bars 40 extending between side bars 32, the frontone 40 of which has inverted U-shaped hooks 41. The shelf frame also hasan upper front bar 42 spaced slightly rearwardly of the front of theshelf frame.- This bar limits forward movement of the cartons on theirinclined support. Finally, the shelf frame has two brackets, each formedwith two legs 43 welded to the transverse rods 40 and 4t) and joined bya for ward loop 44 which extends upwardly at a point slightly in advanceof cross bar 31 and forms a cradle 44, to receive an article, round orotherwise, as it moves out of the carton.

The special carton 12 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Most cartons for canshave a closed lower Wall and a top wall with the usual hinged flapsglued together. This top wall would correspond to wall 45 of FIG. 2. Inthe carton of the present invention, however, all the walls arepermanently sealed except one end wall 46 which has two vertical innerflaps 47 (when viewed as in FIG. 2) and two outer flaps 48 and 49. Nearthe lower end, but above the upper edge of outer flap 49, these innerend walls 47 have a horizontal perforated or otherwise weakened line 50,thus forming two lower vertical flap sections 51. The inner face ofhorizontal flap 49 has a number of interrupted glue spots 52 to providefor easy opening. Before the carton is placed in the shelf frame, orafterwards if desired, the lower horizontal flap 49 is pulled downwardlyto the position of FIG. 3 and the lower vertical flaps 51 separated fromthe upper sections 47, along perforated line 50. This forms an openingof rectangular shape and of a size to permit one can to passtherethrough. If desired, of course, the opening could be made highenough for two cans to come through at a time.

By forming the shelf frame in the manner shown, there are two areas ineach to receive the cartons, the areas lying on each side of centralframe section 38.

The advantage in forming. the shelf frames separate from the base frameresides in the foldability of the latter which reduces shipping areas.Two of the shelf frames can be nested together while shipping.

To use the display and vending apparatus, the base frame is set up inright angular relation as shown in FIG. 6 and the hooks 34 at the rearof the shelf frames engage the cross bar 19 while hooks 41 at the frontengage the lower bar 23 of the side frame. The shelf frames are nowloaded with the cartons by moving them in from the rear of the framesand 11.

If it is desired to load the shelf frames from the front, which ispreferable since it eliminates the need for an aisle to the rear, themodified arrangement of FIG. 9 may be used. The fixed top front bar 42of the shelf frame is replaced by two hinged bars 54 having hinge loops55 at their outer ends for pivoted mounting in V-shaped recesses 56 inbars 36.

The opposite ends of bars 54 have hooks 58 passing into holes 59 in aplate 60 welded on central frame member 38. By raising a bar 54, asingle carton can be pushed rearwardly to the shelf and the hook 58 thenpasses into the plate opening.

While there have been described herein what are at present consideredpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that many modifications and changes may be madetherein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is,therefore, to be understood that the exemplary embodiments areillustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which isdefined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intendedto be included therein.

What I claim is:

1. A frame including a plurality of downwardly inclined supports, incombination with a plurality of cartons of cans to be dispensed andcarried in said supports, the cartons having an end wall opening of asize to permit one can at a time to roll from the carton while on saidinclined support, a stop mounted on the frame adjacent the lower end ofeach support limiting forward travel of the carton on the support and acradle extending forwardly of each support to receive a can as it rollsfrom the carton and to be replaced by a second can when the first one isremoved by raising it upwardly from the cradle.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein means are provided formoving the stop away from carton engaging position to permit frontloading of the frame supports.

3. A frame formed of wire and including a plurality of downwardlyinclined supports, in combination with a plurality of cartons of cans tobe dispensed and carried in said supports, the cartons being normallyclosed but having an end wall opening of a size to permit at least onecan at a time to roll from the carton while on said inclined support, astop mounted on the frame adjacent the lower end of each supportlimiting forward travel of the carton on the support and a bracketextending forwardly and upwardly of each support to limit forward travelof a can as it rolls from the carton and to be replaced by a second canwhen the first one is removed by raising it upwardly from the bracket.

4. A frame member including opposed side frame and a plurality ofdownwardly inclined supports, in combination with a plurality of cartonsof cans to be dispensed and carried in said supports, the cartons, eachhaving an end wall opening of a size to permit at least one can at atime to roll from the carton while on said inclined support, a pivotedbar mounted on the side frames of the support for limiting forwardtravel of the carton on the support and a bracket extending forwardlyand upwardly of said support to limit forward travel of a can as itrolls from the carton and to be replaced by a second can when the firstone is removed byraising it upwardly from the bracket, said bar beingmovable out of the path of a carton to permit a carton to be moved ontothe support, and means for receiving the bar in carton-engagingposition.

5. A'display and delivery device for canned articles comprising a rackforming a base frame, a plurality of rectangular shelf frames supportedthereon and provided with downwardly inclined carton supports, ashipping carton of cans on one shelf frame and provided with an end wallopening of a size permitting a can to roll forwardly by gravity, stopmeans limiting forward movement of the carton on the supports and anupturned bracket in advance of said stop means to receive one can indispensing position and to allow a second can to roll forwardly when thefirst has been removed by raising it upwardly from the bracket.

6. A display and delivery device for canned articles comprising askeletal rack forming a base frame formed of wire, a plurality ofrectangular shelf frames also formed of wire supported thereon, eachprovided with a pair of downwardly inclined carton supports, a shippingcarton for cans on one shelf frame and provided with an end wall Openingof a size permitting at least one can to roll forwardly by gravity, stopmeans limiting forward movement of the carton on the supports and anupturned bracket in advance of said stop means to receive one can indispensing position and to allow a second can to roll forwardly when thefirst has been removed by raising it upwardly from the bracket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,898,056 2/1933Johnson 229-17 2,125,000 7/1938 Considine 211-181 X 2,235,977 3/1941Bitney 211-55 2,289,751 7/1942 Brenholt 211-49 2,315,595 4/1943 Chappory2l1148 2,386,546 10/1945 Ely 229-17 2,680,522 6/1954 Temple 211-181 X3,101,148 8/1963 Brown 211-148 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FRAME INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SUPPORTS, INCOMBINATION WITH A PLURALITY OF CARTONS OF CANS TO BE DISPENSED ANDCARRIED IN SAID SUPPORTS, THE CARTONS HAVING AN END WALL OPENING OF ASIZE TO PERMIT ONE CAN AT A TIME TO ROLL FROM THE CARTON WHILE ON SAIDINCLINED SUPPORT, A STOP MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ADJACENT THE LOWER END OFEACH SUPPORT LIMITING FORWARD TRAVEL OF THE CARTON ON THE SUPPORT AND ACRADLE EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF EACH SUPPORT TO RECEIVE A CAN AS IT ROLLSFROM THE CARTON AND TO BE REPLACED BY A SECOND CAN WHEN THE FIRST ONE ISREMOVED BY RAISING IT UPWARDLY FROM THE CRADLE.